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Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
Missy’s frantic barking alerted Kurt Stewart to a fire threat, when he was wearing headphones and listening to music.
Kurt Stewart hails former “doggy” Missy as a hero for raising the alarm when a major fire broke out in a building a few feet from where he lives.
The military-turned-builder moved from Whanganui to an apartment on Heathcote St in Christchurch in February for a lifestyle change.
He was working on his computer and listening to music on his headphones around 1 a.m. Sunday when 6-year-old Missy began to growl and bark loudly.
“I was almost angry and you don’t understand that. That’s when I knew something was wrong. “
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Stewart removed his headphones and heard pops coming from the industrial building next door, which houses an engineering company, a steel manufacturing company and a storage warehouse.
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
A fire ripped through warehouses on Heathcote St in Woolston, Christchurch, around 1.20am on Sunday. The fire is believed to have been accidental, but is still under investigation.
“It sounded like corrugated iron being ripped off, so I thought maybe someone was trying to get in.
“I ran out … and saw the start of the fire at the top of the building.”
Stewart grabbed Missy, ran down the street, and called emergency services.
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
Stewart heard three small explosions before a large one, which sent a “fireball” into the sky.
Fire crews and police showed up about a minute later and the fire was starting to burn quite brightly, he said.
Stewart heard three small explosions before a large one, which sent a “fireball” into the sky, ripping the corrugated iron roof of a warehouse at the front of the property, which was used for storage.
“I was very scared.”
Missy, a rescue dog, saved him and those who lived on neighboring properties, he believed.
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
The fire was a few feet from Stewart’s apartment. Fire crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to their floor, but some of the paint on the ceiling panels had melted.
“She was rescued from a gang [in Whanganui]. They were using her as a bait dog and [she was] being horribly abused … you couldn’t get close to her, but now she’s the most loving [dog].
“Now he is going to get bones for Africa. His Christmas will be one of the best so far.”
Francis Hernandaz had just returned to his flat at 17 Heathcote St when he saw smoke and then flames flickering from the warehouse roof.
He also called emergency services, and then he and his seven roommates hurriedly packed suitcases with their passports and other valuables before the police evacuated them.
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
Heathcote resident Francis Hernandaz lives in a flat next to the warehouses that caught fire. He and his seven roommates were evacuated.
“I saw very big smoke and then I looked up and saw that the fire was already on the roof, and then I called 111.”
He was grateful that the emergency services responded so quickly, but “sad” for those who had lost their businesses and belongings.
Daniel Hall, owner of Hall Steel, which is on the property, said that in addition to the burned-out workshop doors, the rest were unharmed.
“The workshop is fine … I still have electricity, water, everything.”
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
The fire is believed to have been accidental.
I was hoping to go back to work on Monday.
“I have work to do, it’s Christmas, it’s the busiest time of the year.”
Engineering Triple Power, which was also based on the site, was not so lucky.
Things understands that the company had started operating there only three weeks ago and had been completely destroyed by the fire.
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
The fire devastated the building and caused extensive damage.
Property owner Paul Unwin said the front warehouse, which was used to store “a couple of boats” and the builders’ storage, was also destroyed.
“Today many lives have been destroyed,” he said.
Unwin said he had insured the property.
Fire investigator Mike Gaskin completed an investigation of the scene Sunday and believed the fire was started accidentally.
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
A team of firefighters remained at the scene monitoring critical points Sunday afternoon.
Police were also investigating, he said.
New Zealand Fire & Emergencies Duty Manager Jonathan Ditmer said that initially two teams were dispatched from the Woolston and Christchurch headquarters and found the building “well involved in a fire” around 1.20am.
A second alarm was raised and four more crews were dispatched from Spreydon, Central Christchurch and one specialized crew.
Crews stopped the fire shortly before 3 a.m. and one remained on the scene monitoring critical points Sunday afternoon.
